It was long ago, in the ancient times before television and radio existed, and even movies were merely a penny arcade novelty, that our story took place.
 In those days, the main way that entertainment was provided to rural audiences was by itinerant bands of more or less capable performers. There was a company of such performers that moved from town to town, sometimes with success and sometimes not, but on the whole with enough success to hold body and soul together. And there was a man, an awkward man of uncertain appearance and little intelligence who stumbled upon them, and for a brief time changed their lives and his; and this is their story.